I’m a dad to three daughters and husband to my wife for 17 years. I work as a cosmetology instructor, and this is my 20th year. I enjoy helping students achieve their dreams of being a hairdresser. I am also a blogger and author of Dishonor: One Soldier’s Journey from Desertion to Redemption.

The book is about the three years I spent in an Army prison for desertion. I share the shame that comes with living a dishonorable life and how I turned my life around for the better.

I am passionate about sharing the message that we do not have to be defined by our past and that God can use our kind of mess for good. Two of my hobbies are collecting foreign currency and listening to audio books.

Don’t perform for strangers you’ll never meet. Be present to the people you’re actually with. – Jon Acuff

What I do well as a dad.

I love my wife well. I want my girls to grow up seeing an example of how a man is supposed to treat a woman and not to accept anything less than how I love their mother.

What I learned from another dad.

During a very dark time in my life, I watched my career military father receive official orders to attend my court-martial. During the trial, he stood up in uniform and testified on my behalf to tell the judge that I was his son and he loved me. I learned from him that you love your kids no matter what the circumstances.

Lesson learned from my childeren.

To make time to listen. Kids process things as they develop their own individual personalities. It is so fun hearing the things that they say when they are young. On the other side of that is that your kids are always listening. They hear and remember. Be careful when making promises, because they will hold you to them.

Successful fatherhood moment.

When my family was in attendance as I spoke at a church congregation about my experience in the Army prison, the bad choices I made and how my faith in God helped me rebuild my life. It felt good to know that despite my failures in life my wife and kids are still proud of me.

Dad I admire.

My father-in-law, Tom Toth, taught me the importance of family and jumping in whenever help is needed. He always makes himself available to take care of others and is one of the most selfless individuals I have ever met. When I married my wife, I knew I had some pretty big shoes to fill.

About Hogan Hilling

Hogan Hilling is a nationally recognized author of 12 published books. Hilling is also the author of the DADLY book series and first of its kind coffee table books to feature dads and moms. “DADLY Dads: Parents of the 21st Century” and “Amazing Moms: Parents of the 21st Century.”

He is also the owner of Dad Marketing, a first of its kind consultation firm on how to market to dads. Hilling is the father of three children and lives in southern California. Contact him at [email protected]